ARNPRIOR – An Arnprior youth was seriously injured following a tumble off the side of the Algonquin Trail – a multi-use recreation trail spanning hundreds of kilometres from Lanark County through Renfrew County to Mattawa.

On Saturday evening (June 27), 16 year-old Jakob Ayotte was walking with friends along the Algonquin Trail near Daniel and William Streets in Arnprior when he slipped and fell headfirst down a steep incline landing on a concrete slab.

The area has since been blocked off by the Town of Arnprior but was unbarricaded at the time Ayotte was injured.

He was airlifted by ORNG ambulance to CHEO, but poor weather meant the chopper was unable to land.

Jakob was returned to Arnprior Regional Hospital where an ORNG vehicle then drove him – without vital signs, to the children’s hospital. Scans determined he had suffered a brain bruise; he was in a state of paralysis, but alive.

Ayotte has since lost the sight in his right eye and has skull, orbital and cheek fractures which will all require plastic surgery. He will need dental surgery, has cracked ribs and a compressed lung.

Ayotte has short-term memory loss which may be temporary.

Most of his medical needs are not covered by the family’s insurance, and a GoFundMe page has been started to help out. Ayotte’s mom is a daycare worker currently off the job due to the COVID-19 crisis, but will need to stay home to attend to his needs as he begins a lengthy recovery.

The family has set up a gofundme page and more than $7,000 has been raised to date. If you are interested in helping out, you can find the gofundme page here.